Frozen Aldwinians Roasted by the Manchester Tigers

Game 1:
MRC 20v5 Aldwinians

Game 1 saw Eddie taking up the Captain's duties and having won the toss, The Tigers decided to run the ball at the opposition. This was a very different side to the Aldwinian team we faced at the start of our contact season, there was a team spirit and understanding that showed just how much the opposition had come on during the intervening months since we last played them. The Tigers ran the ball will spirit but stout defending from the visitors meant that this was never going to be easy. The opening came with Josh breaking off from the side of a maul to power over unchallenged in the corner. From the restart, Aldwinians were inventive but the courageous Tigers covered smartly and efficiently, a theme that was held all day long. James had his running feet on and every opportunity he got he was off, only to be held up short by last gasp tackles throughout the first half. The second try, coming from William, was a great linking move, started inevitably by Josh who passed out through Fin and Matty to feed William who ran in his first of the day.
The second half saw 1 replacement on for Aldwinians (Cellum MRC 10s) and 5 changes to the Tigers with Harrison, Bill, Joe, Myles and Ollie entering the affray. Aldwinians started the half and Cellum was over in the corner before any of the Tigers had time to reflect on the referee's whistle, 2v1. This got the Tigers up and running and great hands saw James out wide with the ball and the line looming. A couple of sidesteps took him over to record his first and much deserved try. Great scrummaging from both teams saw the ball toing and froing until finally 'H Bomb' came up with the goods and powered over for the final try of the game.

Game 2:
MRC 5v0 Aldwinians
Game 2 saw William in charge for possibly his last home fixture before his move abroad. Neither side gave an inch and both performed crunching tackles all afternoon, with the outstanding tackle of the day going to a real bone cruncher from Ollie that saw the ball spilled and gave the Tigers the ball for 'H Bomb' again to sprint over for the only try of the game late in the first half. Aldwinians themselves drove the Tigers backwards again and again throughout both halves and were unlucky not to see the scores level with a foot in touch only metres away from the Tigers try line. The Tigers had to take the ball back over their own try line on two occassions such was the Aldwinian pressure, but great defensive tackling by all the team contributed to a hard fought victory.

Having beaten today's opposition comfortably at the start of the season, the Aldwinian team can be proud of how they have come on this season. Neither game was a walk in the park, indeed, both were hard fought contests against worthy opponents.

Today's totally awesome Tigers were (tries in brackets): Bill, Eddie, Ethan, Fin, Harrison(2), James(1), Joe, Josh(1), Joseph, Luke, Matty, Myles, Ollie and William(1) MAN OF THE MATCH.

Next week finds us at home to Blackburn, a side that beat us in the Manchester Festival by a single try. Let's look to avenge that defeat with some great rugby and lots of tries. Roll on Sunday! Ian